Huge by James Fuerst

Eugene “Huge” Smalls is a troubled 12 year old living in 1980’s New Jersey. He is precocious, self aware and addicted to pulp mysteries but he also has serious anger issues. When his grandmother’s retirement home is vandalized, Huge puts himself and his sidekick, Thrash, on the case. This character driven, coming-of-age novel is reminiscent of Catcher in the Rye. It is a quirky but ultimately hopeful ode to adolescence, written for an adult audience.